2 women indicted in death of Webster group home resident Heather Roselli

Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Leslie Schildt talks about Thursday's indictment against Sandra Abdo and Sarah DiLallo, who are accused of causing the death of Heather Roselli, 35, a group home resident in Webster.
Will Cleveland

Two women are facing felony charges in connection with the June 18 death of a resident of a Webster group home.

Sandra Abdo and Sarah DiLallo both pleaded not guilty to second-degree manslaughter in Monroe County Court on Thursday afternoon after Judge Victoria Argento unsealed an indictment charging the women in the death of 35-year-old Heather Roselli.

Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Leslie Schildt said Abdo and DiLallo were arrested Tuesday and charged by sealed indictment. Schildt said the incident involved "three months of intensive investigation" into the "unauthorized, unjustified attack" on Roselli.

During the arraignment, Schildt said DiLallo was the "initiator" in the incident, and added that the entire incident lasted about 45 minutes. Schildt said police were not called until Roselli was unconscious.

Schildt alleged the defendants ignored their training and put Roselli face-down on the ground after she wanted to call her stepfather on Father's Day. Schildt said Roselli was "slammed" to the ground and called "derogatory" names.

Roselli had a lacerated liver, which caused internal bleeding, as well as broken ribs and rug burns on her feet, Schildt said. Schildt added DiLallo admitted to receiving proper training and knowing it was incorrect to put a resident in that position.

"I know they're dealing with a lot of complicated issues right now," Schildt said of Roselli's family. "I know they just want to see justice and that's what we want, too."

Webster Police Chief Joseph Rieger added, "I just want to thank them for their patience as we worked through this case. A lot of investigative work went into it and it did take a couple of months, but I'm happy that they are appreciative of the work."

In June, OPWDD said two employees of the group home were fired following Roselli's death and a third was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

"This is a case that I'm hoping will bring attention to group homes in general," Schildt said. "There are thousands of people who work in these group homes every day who are in it for the exact right reasons. ...They're in it because they care about people.

"But one of the things with these homes is that you have a very vulnerable population."

Schildt added that staff members at group homes have a "position of public trust. That type of situation also means that abuse can happen in these homes and go undetected."

Both women are scheduled to return to court Nov. 30. Each woman was remanded to the Monroe County Jail in lieu of $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond.

Abdo is being represented by James Vacca, while DiLallo is represented by William Easton.

"We intend to defend this case," Easton said. "This case is charged as a non-intentional homicide, a reckless homicide, and an endangering case. My client has no record. She was faithfully employed there for nearly a year. We intend to contest this case, both on a legal basis and on a factual basis."

Because it was a sealed indictment, "They did not commence with an arrest like most cases do," Easton said. "It started with a grand jury investigation we were not aware of."

Schildt requested $75,000 bail or $100,000 cash bond for Abdo and $100,000 bail or $200,000 or cash bond for DiLallo. Both defense attorneys noted neither of their clients have a criminal record.

"We have to start from scratch now and get up to speed and investigate the case," Easton said. "They've been investigating the case for three or four months. We're going to start, and I'm certain we're going to have a different version than was set forth at the district attorney's bail application."